To Print or Not to Print: Why slashdotcom Chose a Different Path
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By slashdotcom
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4 min read
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Every few weeks, someone asks us a familiar question: “Didn’t you used to offer printer solutions?” We did. And for a long time, it made sense. Printers were part of the standard IT toolkit, and providing eco-friendly print solutions felt like a natural extension of helping organisations.
Didn’t you used to offer printer solutions?
Every few weeks, someone asks us a familiar question:
“Didn’t you used to offer printer solutions?”
We did. And for a long time, it made sense. Printers were part of the standard IT toolkit, and supporting them felt like a natural extension of helping organisations stay connected and productive.
But as Slashdotcom evolved, so did our understanding of our responsibility—to our clients, to our communities, and to the planet. Eventually, we made a deliberate decision to step away from offering print solutions. Not because printing is “bad,” and not because printing is going away anytime soon, but because we believe our role is to help organisations reduce unnecessary environmental impact, not reinforce it.
“Didn’t you used to offer printer solutions?”
We did. And for a long time, it made sense. Printers were part of the standard IT toolkit, and supporting them felt like a natural extension of helping organisations stay connected and productive.
But as Slashdotcom evolved, so did our understanding of our responsibility—to our clients, to our communities, and to the planet. Eventually, we made a deliberate decision to step away from offering print solutions. Not because printing is “bad,” and not because printing is going away anytime soon, but because we believe our role is to help organisations reduce unnecessary environmental impact, not reinforce it.
Our Pledge to the Environment and Sustainable Practice
slashdotcom has always been built on a simple principles including
technology should make life better, not cost the earth.
As our work expands into circular hardware, and sustainable device ecosystems, we realised that continuing to sell or support printers didn’t align with the future we’re trying to build.
Printing is one of the most resource-intensive everyday office activities. And while it’s still essential in many settings—care homes, legal services, hospitality, education—we believe our responsibility is to help organisations print less, not print more.
So we made a choice:
we no longer provide printer hardware or managed print services.
Instead, we help our clients understand their printing habits and reduce their carbon footprint through smarter, more sustainable practices.
technology should make life better, not cost the earth.
As our work expands into circular hardware, and sustainable device ecosystems, we realised that continuing to sell or support printers didn’t align with the future we’re trying to build.
Printing is one of the most resource-intensive everyday office activities. And while it’s still essential in many settings—care homes, legal services, hospitality, education—we believe our responsibility is to help organisations print less, not print more.
So we made a choice:
we no longer provide printer hardware or managed print services.
Instead, we help our clients understand their printing habits and reduce their carbon footprint through smarter, more sustainable practices.
The Hard Facts About Printing and the Environment
Printing feels harmless because it’s familiar. But the environmental impact is significant, and often invisible.
Paper Consumption
The average office worker prints 10,000 sheets of paper per year.
Globally, paper production accounts for around 14% of all deforestation.
Producing a single sheet of A4 paper requires 10 litres of water.
Energy Use
Printers and copiers can account for up to 10% of total office energy consumption.
Laser printers emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5), contributing to indoor air pollution.
Ink & Toner Waste
Over 375 million ink and toner cartridges are thrown away each year.
Most cartridges take 450–1,000 years to decompose.
Manufacturing a single toner cartridge emits 4.8kg of CO₂.
Carbon Footprint
A typical office prints enough paper annually to generate over 100kg of CO₂ per employee.
Transporting paper, cartridges, and replacement parts adds further emissions.
These aren’t abstract numbers, they’re the hidden cost of everyday habits.
Paper Consumption
The average office worker prints 10,000 sheets of paper per year.
Globally, paper production accounts for around 14% of all deforestation.
Producing a single sheet of A4 paper requires 10 litres of water.
Energy Use
Printers and copiers can account for up to 10% of total office energy consumption.
Laser printers emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5), contributing to indoor air pollution.
Ink & Toner Waste
Over 375 million ink and toner cartridges are thrown away each year.
Most cartridges take 450–1,000 years to decompose.
Manufacturing a single toner cartridge emits 4.8kg of CO₂.
Carbon Footprint
A typical office prints enough paper annually to generate over 100kg of CO₂ per employee.
Transporting paper, cartridges, and replacement parts adds further emissions.
These aren’t abstract numbers, they’re the hidden cost of everyday habits.
But Let’s Be Honest: Printing Isn’t Going Away
We’re realists.
We work with many organisations & sectors where printing is still essential for safety, compliance, and communication.
So our stance isn’t anti-printing.
It’s pro-responsibility.
We don’t believe in selling hardware that encourages more consumption.
We do believe in helping organisations print smarter, leaner, and greener.
We work with many organisations & sectors where printing is still essential for safety, compliance, and communication.
So our stance isn’t anti-printing.
It’s pro-responsibility.
We don’t believe in selling hardware that encourages more consumption.
We do believe in helping organisations print smarter, leaner, and greener.
How slashdotcom Helps Clients Reduce Their Printing Footprint
Instead of offering printers, we offer something more valuable:
guidance, strategy, and sustainable alternatives.
1. Print Reduction Audits
We help organisations understand:
what they print
why they print
how often they print
where waste occurs
This alone can reduce printing by 20–40%.
2. Digital Alternatives
We support transitions to:
secure digital forms
cloud-based workflows
digital communication methods
modern ways of archiving data.
The days of document archive cabinets are coming to an end, and we fully support this.
3. Sustainable Print Practices
Where printing is essential, we help clients:
choose recycled or FSC-certified paper
use duplex printing by default
reduce colour printing
optimise print queues
recycle cartridges responsibly
guidance, strategy, and sustainable alternatives.
1. Print Reduction Audits
We help organisations understand:
what they print
why they print
how often they print
where waste occurs
This alone can reduce printing by 20–40%.
2. Digital Alternatives
We support transitions to:
secure digital forms
cloud-based workflows
digital communication methods
modern ways of archiving data.
The days of document archive cabinets are coming to an end, and we fully support this.
3. Sustainable Print Practices
Where printing is essential, we help clients:
choose recycled or FSC-certified paper
use duplex printing by default
reduce colour printing
optimise print queues
recycle cartridges responsibly
A Decision That Reflects Who We Are
Stepping away from printer solutions wasn’t a commercial decision—it was a values decision.
Slashdotcom exists to build technology ecosystems that are:
sustainable
circular
sustainability-focused
Continuing to sell print solutions would have contradicted the very principles we stand for.
Instead, we’ve chosen a path that aligns with our environmental pledge and our long-term vision:
helping organisations reduce waste, reduce emissions, and reduce unnecessary printing—without compromising the work they do.
Slashdotcom exists to build technology ecosystems that are:
sustainable
circular
sustainability-focused
Continuing to sell print solutions would have contradicted the very principles we stand for.
Instead, we’ve chosen a path that aligns with our environmental pledge and our long-term vision:
helping organisations reduce waste, reduce emissions, and reduce unnecessary printing—without compromising the work they do.
To Print or Not to Print?
The answer isn’t binary.
It’s about balance, intention, and responsibility.
Printing will always have a place.
But so will sustainability.
At slashdotcom, we’re committed to helping our clients navigate both.
If your organisation wants to understand its printing footprint, explore digital alternatives, we’re here to help you make the shift in a way that’s practical, ethical, and future-proof.
It’s about balance, intention, and responsibility.
Printing will always have a place.
But so will sustainability.
At slashdotcom, we’re committed to helping our clients navigate both.
If your organisation wants to understand its printing footprint, explore digital alternatives, we’re here to help you make the shift in a way that’s practical, ethical, and future-proof.